Ancient Medicine

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Just some drugs made out of poop

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“Another recipe for boils and moles. Use pigeon excrement that’s been made smooth with pungent vinegar and be amazed.”

Ἄλλο πρὸς μώλωπας καὶ φακούς. κόπρον περιστερᾶς μετ' ὄξους δριμέος λειώσας χρῶ καὶ θαυμάσεις.

Aetius of Amida, Libri medicinales 8.10, 414,5–6 Olivieri

“Use for moles: Place pigeon excrement into a linen cloth and burn it completely to ashes. Mix it into a smooth paste with olive oil and don’t be shy when smearing it on. Also, spreading on a paste of perfume-nut works well, as does raw grape hyacinth, by itself or with egg yolk, and either vinegar or honey. Grape hyacinth burnt with bastard-sponge and then smeared on clears away acne.”

χρῶ καὶ πρὸς φακούς· ἢ περιστερᾶς κόπρον εἰς ὀθόνιον βαλών, κατάκαυσον ὡς τεφρωθῆναι καὶ σὺν ἐλαίῳ λεάνας ἐπίχριε θαρρῶν, καὶ μυροβάλανος δὲ λεία ἐπιχριομένη καλῶς ποιεῖ καὶ βολβὸς ὠμὸς καθ' αὑτὸν καὶ σὺν ὠοῦ λεκίθῳ καὶ ὄξει ἢ μέλιτι. κεκαυμένοι δὲ οἱ βολβοὶ μετ' ἀλκυονίου καὶ ἐπιχριόμενοι ἀποκαθαίρουσι τὴν ἔφηλιν.

Aetius of Amida, Libri medicinales 8.12, 415,15–20 Olivieri

“For all kinds of headache and pain on one side of the face. Well tested. Mix up equal amounts with vinegar: juice of wormwood, juice of ivy, goat excrement, snails cooked with their shells, cooked papyrus, bayberries, grape hyacinth, frankincense, spurge, black ink, saffron ointment, oak gall, cabbage leaves, egg yolk, and mallow. Make into pills and use with vinegar.”

Πρὸς πάσαν κεφαλαλγίαν καὶ ἡμικραίραν διὰ πείρας πολλῆς. ἀψινθίου χυλοῦ κισσοῦ χυλοῦ αἰγὸς κόπρου κοχλίους σὺν τοῖς ὀστράκοις κεκαυμένους χάρτου κεκαυμένου δαφνίδων βολβῶν λιβάνου εὐφορβίου μέλανος γραφικοῦ κροκομάγματος κηκίδων ῥαφάνου φύλλων ὠοῦ τὸ πυρρὸν μαλάχης χυλῷ ἴσα λεάνας ὄξει, ποίει τροχίσκους καὶ χρῶ σὺν ὄξει.

Aetius of Amida, Libri medicinales 6.50, 194,18-23 Olivieri

“Archigenes’ remedy for canker sores: apply honey mixed with equal amounts of burnt swallow excrement and human excrement. Don't take just any excrement, but feed a child bread with lupins and well-balanced wine for two days, and on the third day take the excrement, dry it and keep it in storage. After grinding it down, use as previously directed. This also works for a sore throat.”

Ἄλλο Ἀρχιγένους πρὸς ἐσχάρας ἐν στόματι. χελιδόνων κεκαυμένων καὶ ἀνθρωπείας κόπρου τὸ ἴσον σὺν μέλιτι διάχριε. λάμβανε δὲ τὴν κόπρον οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν, ἀλλὰ παιδίῳ διδοὺς τροφὴν πρὸ ἡμερῶν <β> ἄρτον μετὰ θερμίων καὶ οἶνον σύμμετρον καὶ οὕτως τῇ τρίτῃ τῶν ἡμερῶν λαμβάνων τὴν κόπρον καὶ ξηραίνων ἔχε ἀποκειμένην καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας λεάνας χρῶ, ὡς προείρηται· ποιεῖ καὶ πρὸς συνάγχας.

Aetius of Amida, Libri medicinales 8.49, 475,10–16 Olivieri